SHILLONG: After coal mines, stone quarries have now become virtual death traps for labourers with many casualties being reported on a regular basis.
In the pre-NGT ban period, rat-hole mining had claimed the lives of many workers due to the hazardous nature of the work, but now the focus is on people working in stone quarries as several deaths have been reported.
After the NGT ban in 2014, labourers toiling at stone quarries have fallen victims to freak accidents.
This year a labourer was crushed to death by a boulder at a stone quarry at Khliehtyrshi, West Jaintia Hills. The incident happened on May 4 when the labourer Lal Bordoloi was working at the stone quarry. He was shifted to Dr. Norman Tunnel Hospital in Jowai where he was declared brought dead.
Again on May 19 around 9.30 AM, one Veronica Ch Marak (50) died on the spot when a boulder fell on her, while she was working in a stone quarry at Chibra under Khanapara PS in Ri-Bhoi.
An official source said there is a need on the part of the Labour department to look into the deaths of people working in stone quarries.
Earlier in May, 2015, a labourer, Munse Habrom, died on the spot while he was working at a stone quarry at Jolsyiem under Khanapara in Ri-Bhoi.
In 2014, two persons Md. Nesar Ali (20) and Md. Hasan Ali (27) accidentally fell down while they were working in a stone quarry at Maikhuli under Pillangkata outpost on December 23.
Two incidents came to the fore in 2013, a manager of a stone quarry, identified as Arjun Borah lost his life while another helper sustained minor injuries when a generator burst in the stone quarry at Rani, Jirang in Ri-Bhoi on June 9.
One incident occurred on October 24, 2013 when Doster L Nonglait (52) was working in a stone quarry at Sibsohrew village in West Khasi Hills. A boulder fell on him and he succumbed to his injuries despite being shifted to Nongkhlaw CHC.
Again on October 10, one miner identified as Lotar Thabah (50), who was at work in a stone quarry at Mawphyrnai village near Mairang Sub-Division in West Khasi Hills, was crushed to death and his co-worker sustained injuries when a slab of stone fell on them.
